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Our Teachers
Judit Gaspar - Ballroom/Latin Classes
Judit Gaspar was born in a small town called Szombathely in Hungary.
She was 14 years old when she got introduced to ballroom dancing through her school. She joined the
local Dance Team called Savaria Dance Sport Team, and took dancing seriously: in just two years
she became member of the Adult Latin Formation Team. Savaria rose to the top and became
undefeated Hungarian Champion in Latin American dances for all the years she was member. The team
represented Hungary in international competitions. Judit’s best result with the team was 5th place
in the World Championship.
She also competed with a partner in International Standard and they became regular finalists
in national championships.
In 1997 she was invited by Armin Kappacher, the owner of the Fred Astaire Dance Studio of Boston
to teach ballroom dancing. She decided to make dancing a new career, which also meant to compete
now as a professional.
She danced with Richard Hutton from Ireland for 2 years, which had proven itself as a successful
partnership.
They reached several finals here on the East coast. Some of their most outstanding results as
professionals was at the Dance Sport Competition in Montreal: first place in the Rising Star
Standard division and 4th in the Open Standard Champíonship. Yankee Classic Boston: 4th place
in the Rising Star Standard division and semi-final in the Open Standard Champíonship.
She took the Fred Astaire teachers’ qualification tests as well as the ISTD (Imperial
Society of Teachers of Dancing) Licentiate exam in International Ballroom and passed as 'highly
commended'.
Judit studied international business and economics and she holds a Bachalor of Science
(BA) degree in Business Management.
Judit has a new ‘little miracle’ in her life: her son Christopher Szilard was born on
November 28, 2005.
Todor Stavrev - Ballroom/Latin Classes
Todor Stavrev has been dancing competitive Latin/Ballroom dancing since the age of 14 when he
joined a dance team in his native country Bulgaria. He competed actively in both Bulgaria and
United States and performed at various shows and competitions in both countries.
In the USA he trained with the MIT Ballroom Dance Team under the supervision of Armin Kappacher,
former Austrian Amateur Latin Champion, for three years. He also regularly trained with Vibeke Toft,
former Professional Latin World Champion.
Todor took his dancing to open level making finals and winning several East Coast Dance
competitions in International Latin.
After retiring from competitive dancing he decided to discover dancing from a different aspect:
he joined our team as a coach and now he trains the future competitive dancers.
He holds a master’s degree in economics from Boston College where he created and coached a
ballroom dance team. Besides his passion for dancing, Todor works as an economist at an
economic consulting company.
Michelle May Deane - Ballet/Jazz Classes
We are very happy to welcome Michelle to our team: a young and energetic person with an extended
experience as a professional dancer. Her number one passion is dancing, teaching and working with
children.
Michelle Deane, a southern California native, has been dancing for over 16 years.
She first started her dancing career as a ballet dancer at Desert Ballet in her small hometown,
Yucca Valley.
Michelle later moved to Massachusetts, and attended the University of Mass. Amherst,
where she received a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Dance. While in college, she received a
Chancellors Talent Award Scholarship, and participated in the U-Mass Theatre Guild.
She also holds a Master Degree in education (M. Ed) from Cambridge College.
Since moving to Boston, Michelle has worked with many dance companies in the past that include,
Rainbow Tribe, Triiiple Threat Dance Company, and Adrienne T. Hawkins "Day Job Dancers."
During her dance career she has been a principle dancer for corporate and family events
including companies such as Gillette, Kessler Financial and Fidelity.
Michelle does not only have passion for teaching dance but she still actively studies and
trains with different dance groups.
Michelle recently, is co-founder and co-choreographer of the dance company Amara, and is also
a principle dancer for the Upside DJ Company; she is also represented by Triiiple
Threat Dance Agency.
Michelle also has an extended teaching experience. She has taught ballet, jazz, modern,
and Hip-hop classes at Big Sisters of Boston, Brookline Community Center for the Arts,
University of Massachusetts Amherst, YWCA Haverhill, and YMCA Andover. Her students ages 5 to adult.
Cristin Fagone - Ballet/Jazz Classes
Cristin Fagone is an active dancer/teacher/choreographer in the Boston area originally from
North Conway, NH.
She has Bachelors degrees in both Dance/Performance Studies and Communications
from Roger Williams University where she graduated magna cum laude in 2005. While at RWU she also
received several performance scholarships and the Outstanding Achievement in Dance award.
Cristin currently dances with Prometheus Dance in Cambridge. She has recently danced with Stephen
Koplowitz, The Deborah Abel Dance Company and The Animus Ensemble. Cristin teaches dancers of
all ages at several Boston area studios and choreographs for the Watertown Children’s Theatre.
Jose Eric Cruz - Hip-hop Classes
Jose Eric Cruz has been dancing most of his life from a very young age while growing up in the Hip-Hop
community and culture. Currently teaching classes full time throughout the Boston area.
He has utilized his artistic and dance talent working with children and adults of all ages
and backgrounds. Growing both as a dancer and instructor, Jose Eric Cruz has had the honor of
meeting and learning from his childhood inspiration Bruno Falcon (Michael Jackson's personal
dance coach and Choreographer of 18 years) and very close friend Jimmy Locust
(American Choreographer Award Nominee and feature dancer of Janet Jackson, Paula Abdul,
and Michael Jackson).
Jose Eric Cruz has performed in specialty acts as a feature dancer for Reebok, Puma, ECCO,
Berkley School of Music, The Boston Ballet, The Hatch Shell, New England Conservatory, UMASS,
Boston University, Harvard University, Stone Hill College, F.I.T. (The ELLAN awards), Copley Theater,
MOBIUS, Regent Theater, and many more.
Stylez of Dance Practice:
Snaking (Cobra), Waving, Popping, Robot, Strobing, Animation, Tutting, Dime Stopping, Air Posing,
Hip-Hop, and Freestyle.
Inspirations:
Mom Dukes (Carmen Rivera), Snakes, Water, Bruce Lee, Boogaloo Sam, Popin Pete, Pop n Taco, Tron,
Christopher Rivera (my lil bro), and Fadayz (brotha from another motha!!
Message to All:
Personal Mottos, "Believe in yourself, seek talent, and serve a purpose."
Ana Carolina Lima a.k.a. Morena - Brazilian Samba Classes
Ana Carolina Lima a.k.a. Morena was born in Ananindeua, PA in Brazil in 1983.
Like many Brazilians she was introduced to Samba right after she learned how to walk.
At the age of 10 she moved to the U.S., and at the age of 14 she was introduced to Capoeira.
Capoeira is an Afro-Brazilian martial art which involves martial arts, acrobatics and dance.
Samba is a big part of capoeira. Samba de Roda (samba in a circle) is something that everyone who
practices capoeira is exposed to. Later on she started to travel to many different events just to
learn the different styles of Samba, like Pagode, Samba Tradiocional (do Rio) and of course
Samba de Roda.
Morena has been teaching Samba workshops throughout the U.S. for the last 2 years.
Morena also teaches Capoeira (under the supervision of contra-master Ze Com Fome) and is now pursuing
a career in nutrition.
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